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Elderly Care Tips: Non-Perishable Foods to Have On Hand for Emergencies

December 16, 2015 By
Greg and Hilary Eldridge

Elderly Care in Sugar Hill GA

One of the most important features of a wintertime elderly care plan is emergency preparedness. You never know when severe weather might strike, taking out electricity and snowing your aging loved ones into their home for days at a time. While this is not something that you want to think about, and you hope that it will never happen, taking the time now to put emergency measures into place can ensure your seniors will get through such an urgent situation as safely and comfortably as possible, and will give you greater peace of mind knowing that your parents have what they need to survive a wintertime emergency.

When it comes to creating an emergency plan for winter preparedness, one of the vital components you must put into place is a supply of non-perishable food to sustain your loved ones if they are not able to get out of the house or you are not able to get to them with fresh food. It is important to prepare for both times when they will be able to cook and times when there will be no electricity or cooking capability. This ensures there is plenty of food available to keep them sustained, comfortable, and healthy until the emergency has come to an end.

While the food you store will depend on your parents’ tastes, nutritional needs, and the amount of space available to keep the food safe and protected from spoilage, it is important that you do your best to store at least three to seven days of non-perishable food for your parents as well as two to three extra sets of rations to sustain their you, their elderly health care services provider, or anyone else who may be in the home when the emergency hits.

Some foods that you should consider stocking up in your parents’ home for their winter emergency preparedness include:

• Rice. Inexpensive, highly versatile, and nutritious, you can purchase rice in very large bulk bags and keep them indefinitely. Rice is filling, provides fiber, vitamins, and energy from carbohydrates, and is perfect for serving with all types of meals. A single pound of uncooked rice produces more than 40 servings of cooked rice, more than enough for both of your parents to eat two servings a day for a full week.

• Jerky. Getting enough protein is critical to maintaining physical health as well as supporting energy. Jerky made from beef or turkey is delicious, salty, and satisfying, and it can last for months when stored properly. A one-ounce piece has around 9 grams of protein and is very low in calories. If heat is available, jerky can be reconstituted in boiling water to add to soups or eat with other foods.

• Dried fruit. A sweet and tasty way to get dietary fiber and nutrients such as vitamins and antioxidants, dried fruit is delicious to eat on its own as a snack, to add to oatmeal or other foods, or to reconstitute and blend into a smoothie.

• Oatmeal. Full of dietary fiber, oatmeal is filling, comforting, and easy to prepare. Even if the electricity is out, you can prepare raw oats by mixing powdered milk with water, adding it to the oats, and allowing it to sit in a cold location overnight.

• Canned vegetables. Canned vegetables, including beans, are highly nutritious and already cooked so they are edible even if there is no cooking resource available. Make the most of the products by draining the liquid into a pot and using it as a base to prepare soup.

If you or an aging loved one are looking for elderly care in Sugar Hill, GA, contact the caring staff at Home Helpers of Alpharetta. Call today (678) 430-8511.

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